Do teachers value compliance above learning?

These are amongst the most common elements I found, none of which seem to relate
to learning...

Work quietly.
Raise your hand to speak.
Listen carefully.
Follow instructions.
Do your best work.
Dont speak until called on.
Be punctual.

Have our students training and experience set them up to believe that these are are the
appropriate expectations for a learning environment?

Some are even more extreme and less related to learning

Sit correctly on chairs. (big kids?)

We sit still on the carpet. (little kids)
Keep your hands to yourself.
Dont throw things.
Talk to your classmates only when the activity requires you to.
Stay in your seat unless you have permission to leave.

Does this set the tone for engaging learning?

Here are some of the more appealing inclusions I found, which are more likely to support an
environment conducive to learning and isnt that the purpose of school?

Be prepared to make mistakes and learn from them.

Try new things even if they scare us.
Think before you act.
Respect yourself and others.
Make wise choices to support your learning.
Include people if they look excluded.
Be open-minded Listen to, consider and value other perspectives.
 Take ownership of our learning.
Dream big.

I really like this one!

10 ways to create a meaningful class agreement

1. Dont start till youve spent some time establishing your own beliefs about learning.
2. Have the kids consider what helps them learn and what hinders their learning.
(Details here)
3. Begin with what the learners value or the school values. (Example here)
4. Have kids unpack your schools learning principles as a starting point. (I havent tried
that yet, but here are ours.)
5. Base it on a common set of qualities, such as the IB Learner Profile. (Staff example
here)
6. Use a place mat activity so students have time to think individually, before seeking
consensus. (Details here)
7. Have kids think about what learning looks like, sounds like and feels like.
8. Take your time. Build the agreement gradually, to ensure understanding and
ownership.
9. Include photos and descriptions for younger learners, to elaborate on the words.
10. Live it, dont laminate it. Revisit the agreement often and adjust as required.
 Tuesday, August 19th 2014
VERBS QUIZ
Have had had tener
Speak spoke spoken hablar
Play played played jugar o tocar msica

Go went gone ir
Read read read leer
Sing sang sung cantar
Come came come venir
Swim swam swum nadar
Mop mopped mopped trapea
Talk talked talked hablar/platicar
1. Read p 17-19
2. On p 34 illustrate 5
words you didnt
understand
3. P 39
4. Bring a plain paper
(fold it in 4)